Closure



Oct. 23, 1951 P. PORTER CLOSURE Filed July 26, 1948 fzea/ A 2% INVENTOR Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE Percy L. Porter, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 26, 1948, Serial No. 40,663

4 Claims.

Closures of numerous types have been heretofore proposed for closing and sealing bottles and like containers. These closures are generally used to re-seal bottles containing so-called charged or carbonated beverages, for such bottles, after the original sealing and closing member is removed, cannot be re-sealed by that member as the same is multilated during its removal from the bottle. Beverages of this type soon become fiat if not properly re-sealed, as the gas with which they are charged soon escapes into the atomsphere.

The closure of the present invention is primarily adapted for re-sealing a bottle such as is now used for charged or carbonated beverages. The closure in the broadest aspects thereof, comprises a stopper element adapted to be fitted into the neck of the bottle to sealingly engage the wall thereof and means for positively holding the stopper element within the neck of the bottle.

In the now preferred form of the invention the stopper element is provided with an annular groove for loosely receiving a toroidal member of some elastically deformable material such as rubber. The stopper element has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the opening in which it is to be inserted which in turn is less than the outer diameter of the toroidal member. As the toroidal member is of an elastically deformable material the same will be compressed as the stopper element is urged into the opening of the container and the reaction forces resulting from the compression of the toroidal member produces a seal between the latter and the wall of the opening.

To positively hold the stopper within the opening of the container, the stopper element is provided with a retaining member mounted for limited movement relative to the same. This member is provided with retaining means for releasably engaging interlockingly with the bead of the bottle.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of several embodiments thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the closure of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view partly in section of the closure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the closure;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a modified form of the closure; and

' Figure 6 is also a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a still further modified form of the closure.

The closure member of the present invention, in the embodiment of the same illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, comprises a stopper element ll! of some suitable metal such as aluminum. This element, as best seen in Figure 3, is provided with an annular groove substantially midway of its length. The groove receives and holds a toroidal member or O-ring ll of some elastically deformable material such as rubber.

It will be seen that the'O-ring has an outer diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the stopper element IU of the closure. The diameter of the stopper element on the other hand, obviously must be slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening in the bottle in which it is inserted.

To facilitate insertion of the stopper element H) in the opening of a bottleor like container, the stopper is provided with a button-like head l2 which, in the form of the closure "shown in Figures 1 through 3, is fixed or attached to the stopper element by means of a cylindrical boss l3 or the like. The head I2 is formedwith a centrally disposed opening for receiving the boss and it will be seen, referring again to Figure 3, that the end of the boss protruding slightly beyond the exposed face [4 of the head is peened over to permanently attach the head to the stopper element.

The exposed face [4 of the head is stepped or circularly serrated to provide a surface against which the ball of the'thumb or palm of a hand of a user may be urged to force'the stopper ele-' ment into the opening of the bottle. As theO-v ring II has an outer diameter larger than'the diameter of the opening, the O-ring II will be compressed and the reaction forces set up by the compression of the elastically deformable material of which the O-ring is formed will produce a very effective seal between the stopper element and the wall of the opening of the bottle.

To hold the stopper element in the opening of the bottle, the closure of the present invention includes retaining means interlockingly'en gaging with the bead circumscribing the lip defining the opening of the bottle for positively holding the 3 stopper element against accidental removal from the bottle. Although a number of retaining means could be used, it is now preferred to form this means as a pair of curved ears or lugs I5 depending from the opposite sides of a plate 16 slidably carried by the stopper element II].

In the illustrated embodiment of the closure, the plate I6 is formed with a slot 11 which receives an enlargement I8 formed at the root of the boss l3. It will be seen, referring particularly to Figure 3, that the enlargement [8 forms an annular shoulder slightly displaced from the outer face of the plate so that when the end portion of the boss is peened over the head 12 is clamped against this shoulder and the plate is free to slide relative to the stopper element.

As the ears or lugs [5 are carried by the plate adjacent the one end thereof, the stopper element is moved to a position adjacent the opposite end of the plate when it is desired to insert the stopper element into the bottle opening. The user, after the stopper element has been mounted in the mouth of the opening, by urging his thumb or palm of his hand downwardly against the head can easily force the stopper element into the opening to seal the bottle. The plate can now be moved to bring the ears or lugs l5 into engagement with the bead of the bottle to prevent accidental movement of the stopper element.

To facilitate sliding movement of the plate, the opposite end portions thereof are formed with downturned pads l9. If desired, however, other means could be provided for simplifying the sliding movement of the plate.

In the embodiment of the invention just described, it is now preferred to form the elements other than the O-ring of some suitable metal. Other materials could be used, of course, without changing the shape or function of any element of the closure.

There is shown in Figure 5, a modified form of the closure in which the stopper element 2| is formed of a suitable metal while the button-like head 22 is formed of some plastic. In this form of the closure, the stopper element is provided with a blind opening into which is force-fitted a boss .23 formed integral with the head 22.

The boss 23 is formed with an enlargement 24 presenting a shoulder limiting movement of the boss 23 into the opening of the stopper element. I

Thus when the boss 23 .is driven into the opening to the extent permitted by the shoulder the distance between the adjacentfaces of the head and stopper element is just slightly greater than the thickness of. the plate 25. This plate is identical to "the plate I6 and like that plate is formed with curved ears or lugs 26 similar 'to the ears or lugs 15.

An O-ring 2'! identical'to O-ring I I of the first described .form of the closure performs the same functions as that O-ring and it is not believed necessary to again explain the sealing :action of the same.

It is not to be inferred that the stopper element and :the plate carrying the bead-engaging lugs must be formed of a metal for, as shown in Figure 6, these elements can also be formed of other materials such as a suitable plastic. In the embodiment of the invention shown in .Figure 6, the stopper element 3|, provided with a groove for receiving an O-ring :32, is formed with an opening which receives a boss 33 integrally formed with the button-like head 34. This boss is also formed with an enlargement 35 forming a shoulder which spaces the adjacent faces of 4 the head and stopper element apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the plate 36.

The boss 33 is formed of such a length that the one end thereof rotrudes a short distance beyond the end face of the stopper element 3| and this protruding end is by heat and pressure caused to flow into and fill the slightly flared end of the opening of the stopper element. The head applied should be sufiicient to cause the end of the boss to bond to the Wall of the flared mouth of the opening to seal the connection between the boss and the stopper element.

The plate 36 of this embodiment of the present invention carries the bead-engaging lugs 31 which when engaged with the bead hold the stopper against accidental removal from the opening of the bottle.

Although the now preferred embodiments of the present invention have, been shown and described herein it is to be understood that the resent invention is not to be limited thereto for the same is susceptible to changes in form and detail within the scope of the appends-d claims.

I claim:

1. A closure for sealing a container having a bead circumscribing the opening therein, comprising: a stopper element; a force-receiving head adapted to receive a force applied by the hand of a user in forcibly inserting said stopper element into said opening; a pin-like means joining said head to said stopper element; a plate having a slot longitudinally formed therein; said pin-like means passing through said slot to mount said plate for sliding movement to said closure; and downwardly extending bead-engaging lugs carried at opposite edges of said plate adjacent one end thereof, said plate being movable to a position in which said bead-engaging lugs are not engageable with said bead to permit said element to be inserted into the opening and thereafter movable to a second position in which said bead engaging lugs interlockingly engage with said bead to retain said stopper element in said opening.

'2. A closure for sealing a container having a bead circumscribing the opening therein, comprising: a stopper element; a force-receiving head adapted to receive a force applied by the hand of a user in forcibly inserting said stopper element into said opening; pin-like means joining said head to said stopper element; a plate having a slot longitudinally formed therein; said pin-like means passing-through said slot to mount said plate for sliding movement to said closure; a lug depending from each marginal portion ofsaid plate adjacent the one end thereof, each lug being shaped to interlockingly engage with the opposite portions of said bead; said plate being movable to position the opposite end of said plate over said stopper element to permit insertion of said stopper element in said opening, said plate thereafter movable to cause engagement of said lugs with said bead whereby said stopper element is held against accidental removal from said opening and a pad carried at each end of said plate for receiving end thrusts applied by a user to move said plate relative to said stopper element.

3. A closure for sealing a container having a bead circumscribing the opening therein, comprising: a stopper element; a substantially cylindrical boss longitudinally extending from the one end face of said element; a force-receiving head having an opening therethrough for receiving the free endof said boss which is peened over to fix said head to said-stopperelement; a plate having a slot formed therein mounted intermediate the element and said head, said boss passing through said slot whereby said plate is movable relative to said element an amount equal to the length of said slot; and bead-engaging means carried adjacent one end of said plate, said plate being movable to a position in which said bead-engaging means are not engageable with said bead to permit said element to be inserted into the opening and thereafter movable to a second position in which said bead-engaging means interlockingly engage with said head to retain said stopper element in said opening.

4. A closure for sealing a container having a bead circumscribing the opening therein, comprising: a stopper element having a longitudinally extending opening therein; a force-receiving head; a substantially cylindrical boss extending outwardly from one face of said head, said boss being secured within said opening to fix said head to said stopper element; a plate having a slot passing said boss mounted intermediate said head and stopper element for sliding movement fixed by the length of said slot; and bead-engaging means carried adjacent one end of said plate, said plate being movable to a position in which 6 said bead-engaging means are not engageable with said bead to permit said element to be inserted into the opening and thereafter movable to a second position in which said bead-engaging means interlockingly engage with said bead to retain said stopper element in said opening.

PERCY L. PORTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 337,202 Seymour Mar. 2, 1886 509,586 Schroeder Nov. 28, 1893 626,027 Laible May 30, 1899 886,925 Betts et a1. May 5, 1908 1,473,048 Roberts Nov. 6, 1923 2,153,807 Kleinert Apr. 11, 1939 2,404,410 Smith July 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,027 Great Britain May 31, 1889 

